ANDALUSIAN HORSE SEMEN

ANDALUSIAN HORSE HISTORY

The Andalusian descended from Spanish and Portuguese Iberian horses, and it originates from the province, of Andalusia, where it gets its name. Also referred to as the Pure Spanish Horse or PRE, the Andalusian is closely related to the Lusitano, which was named after Portugal’s ancient name of Lusitania.

The Andalusian’s history spans thousands of years, originating with the prehistoric horses that populated the Iberian Peninsula in Spain during prehistoric times. The Iberian horse was influenced by horses brought to the peninsula by explorers, giving way to the Andalusian breed in the 1400s.

The Iberian horse was known as a tremendous war horse, and the Andalusian continued that legacy. Armies favored the Andalusian for its agility and speed, and those same traits made the breed a popular horse among European royalty. As riding academies formed and the art of riding became popular, the Andalusians made a popular mount and influenced breeds like the Lipizzaner, the Cleveland Bay, and the Connemara.

Andalusians are strong, compact horses that average 15.1 hands high. Stallions and geldings tend to weigh approximately 1,100 pounds, while mares weigh slightly less at approximately 900 pounds. The Association of Purebred Spanish Horse Breeders of Spain requires mares to be at least 14.3 hands and stallions and geldings to be at least 15 hands in order to be registered. For horses to be approved as elite stock, mares must be at least 15 ¼ hands and stallions must be at least 15.1 hands.

The Andalusian is a highly versatile breed, making it a suitable mount for dressage, jumping, trail riding, Western pleasure, English pleasure, and even driving. It’s a popular choice for parades and demonstrations, thanks to its eye-catching looks and commanding appearance. This breed is often used as a bullfighting mount in Spain and Portugal.